Search

Archives

Archive for March, 2011

The Nuclear Blast family on Facebook keeps growing and growing, and that’s why we want to thank YOU for your support by offering all our Facebook fans an EXCLUSIVE and FREE DOWNLOAD sampler with 15 songs!

If you are registered with Facebook, just go to our page, www.facebook.com/NUCLEARBLASTUSA and “Like” it to become our new family member. Afterwards, you’ll find the link for our FREE NB digital download sampler. Plus, you’ll get the latest news about all Nuclear Blast artists in your news feed.

If you’re not a Facebook member, you can still visit our Facebook page and catch up on the latest band news on our wall.

A free Nuclear Blast app for Android smart phones is now available (in addition to a free app for iPhones & iPod Touch) at this location.

LOS ANGELES, CA – March 30, 2011 — Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien will fill in for Exodus’ Gary Holt when Holt leaves the Slayer European tour to play with his own band Exodus at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile on April 4. Holt has been filling in for Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman since the tour kicked off February 26 in Australia.

Holt’s last show with Slayer will be April 4 in Padova, Italy; O’Brien will join the band for the April 6 show in Croatia, and will finish the European dates with Slayer that wrap up on April 14 in Holland.

Hanneman has amazed his doctors with his speedy recovery from an infection thought to have been caused by a spider bite. Following surgery on his right arm, he continues his physical therapy and has already been practicing with his guitar.

Portland, OR stoner doom behemoths NETHER REGIONS recently released their debut full-length, Into the Breach. Heaviest ov heavy music portals The Obelisk, is currently streaming the album in full on its front page – take a listen here:

The record was recorded with Mike Lastra and Mark Ellsworth at Smegmatone in Portland, OR, and features a solid dose of fuzzed-out rock’n’groove for fans of High on Fire, Motorhead, and cheap bourbon. According to Hellride, “In addition to it’s massive sound, Joe’s vocals and the epic arrangements, Nether Regions doesn’t fall into the endless abyss of copycat, cookie cutter bands. They definitely have their own unique territory of sound staked out,” while To Eleven commented, ” Do you like massive, fuzzy riffing? Do you like Lemmy-esque vocal delivery? Yeah me too. Love it, even. Get this.”

Metal Psalter raved, “Standouts include “Blood Ritual”, “Your Name is Madness” and “Outrun the Sun”, but ingested as a whole there is no bitter pill to swallow here. Nether Regions might be well beyond the river Styx, but this brand of metal is right along the edges of the here and now and can be consumed in large, hungry doses. Enjoy the feast. ”

*Review copies/promo links of the record are available, and the band is always down for interviews. Get in touch!*

NETHER REGIONS is:

Joe Wickstrom-Bass, Vocals

Kyle Bates- Guitar

Todd Pidcock-Guitar

Ryan Moore -Drums

BAND BIO:

Everyone knows that Portland, OR is the new home of the heavy—and few can attest to this with more hindsight than Joe Wickstrom. As bassist/vocalist of Nether Regions, the man shares his disillusionment with the failures of mankind on this pale blue dot based purely on decades of raw personal experience that have brought him “into the breach” more than once. He’s been shot and stabbed for crying out loud—yet here is the brand new album from this real life Terminator.

Nether Regions (synonymous for both the lands beyond the river Styx AND a woman’s private parts) is a successor to Wickstrom’s previous (sober) stoner-oriented act Ditchliquor. Riffs are king here, ably provided by guitarist Kyle Bates—a true future star of Portland metal. While Wickstrom’s roots trail back to the 1990’s Satyricon club scene, Kyle is an eighteen year-old former student of Wickstrom’s. Now in more of a mentor-and-muse partnership, the two are bringing a four-fisted multigenerational approach to dirge-metal.

Wickstrom’s vocals have that hoarse, world-weariness that Lemmy and Matt Pike perfected. The riffs are part rolling thunder, part space age Cosmicism, and occasionally Eastern-tinged. Bate’s solos are particularly scorching, especially when one considers how wet behind the ears he ought to be. While Wickstrom nods at NWOBHM, Bates prods at post-rock. Influences in the middle ground are as disparate as Sonic Youth, Joy Division and all eras of black metal. In the final assay, these are garagantuan riff-metal outings that infuse Black Sabbath and Neurosis-style heaviness with a love of Beatles-inspired SONGWRITING. There’s no hanging on the hooks of a certain guitar tone or an air-brushed monster on the album cover. These tunes each possess an identity, a carefully considered arrangement, and a sense of timeless confidence.

In a day an age when other local stalwarts Red Fang, Rabbits, and YOB are enjoying international acclaim, it’s time for the next tier of Portland metal standard-bearers to ascend. Whether you take note or not, Wickstrom will forge ahead because that’s what badass motherfuckers do. As he’s wont to say, “Everything is bullshit” anyway. – NATHAN CARSON

Last festival news is provided in the press release below. It is also
attached in a blank page with some promo material if you find it more
convenient. You are welcome to use it with no restrictions.

PRESS RELEASE
March 30, 2011
Vilnius, Lithuania
————————————————-

Devilstone open air: the third revelation!

Rapidly booming heavy music festival will hit the ground for the third
time fortifying its positions as imperishable! This midsummer, 15 – 17
July, the spellbinding and God’s forgotten Lithuanian corner called
Anyksciai offers you the maddening hard atmosphere, live and high quality
metal music, and refreshing streams of Sventoji that brims over entire
weekend!

The organizers oblige featuring over twenty bands encompassing best local
performers and exceptionally selected artists from European extreme music
scene. To add up to festival’s credit, Lithuanian ground will be honored
by the feet of English death metal veterans BENEDICTION. Eagerly awaited
over two decades legendary dark prophets resurrect the buried hopes of
their fans and bring long-polished and never forsaken hellish live
performances to the highlights of Devilstone Open Air.

For hell not to break loose Northern winds shall be invoked. Storming in
with refreshingly modern sounds and moods whilst maintaining professional
quality are Norwegians SUSPERIA playing melodic black/thrash metal and
Swedish IN MOURNING with their progressive death keynotes. The gloomy
shadows will descend to mystic depths and enter the abyss with blackest
screams in blending melodic tunes, lyrics, and voices preached by French
genius ALCEST and his spectacular atmospheric metal.

A local spice to your experience is provided by the legends of pagan
spirit OBTEST and incredibly perspective death metal youngsters PARALYTIC.
More detailed cast will be confirmed closer to date.

For those metal heads who burst with energy even after entire day of live
performances the night-time Rocktheque program is offered. Time until dawn
is devoted to 1960-1989 rock music aiming to resurrect of the forlorn good
old Woodstock spirit.

Be sure to bring your friends and try out the miscellany including
volleyball tournament, tea tasting, MC growl fight, photo contest,
creative workshop, football match, as well as many more. And do not forget
to pay homage to the natural and cultural heritage in Anyksciai area as it
is always full of surprises, inspiring scenery, and life-time experiences.

Standard ticket price is 20 Euro and great discounts available for groups.
Find out more at www.devilstone.net.

Information for bands

Devilstone Open Air still has several available slots and is seeking a
professionally minded, strong skilled and quality-guided bands
disregarding metal genre to enrich the festival’s line-up. If this short
list of requirements defines your band and you strive to play in a
prominent metal music festival, contact evilized@devilstone.net providing
following details:
– band’s title
– short description
– links to music and live video
– contacts (e-mail and phone number)

Facts and Roots

– The previous Devilstone Open Air festivals featured worldwide famous
bands including SEPULTURA, MAYHEM, KEEP OF KALESSIN, GRAVE, TANKARD,
SINISTER, CODE to name but few.
– The festival’s title arose from a local legend. It is said that a devil
carried a huge stone aiming to crush Anyksciai’ church. As the dawn broke
a rooster sang scaring the hell out of the devil. Running for the hideout
he threw the stone aside where it lies up to date. One can visit the
landmark titled Puntukas in a meadow of the Anyksciai Regional Park.
– The festival ground is located on the riverside of Sventoji (Lithuanian
word for “The Saint One”) in the valley of Dainuva. The distance to the
town centre is roughly 1 kilometre.

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. – March 29, 2011 – The moment death metal fans from around the world have been waiting for is finally here. HATE ETERNAL are back and ready to destroy death metallers with Phoenix Amongst the Ashes, the follow up to their 2008 behemoth Fury & Flames. Albert Mudrian of Decibel Magazine declares that Phoenix Amongst the Ashes is “the best death metal record I’ve heard in FOREVER!” while the folks over at Metal Sucks proclaim that “Phoenix Amongst the Ashes is the moment Erik Rutan’s entire career has been leading towards — it’s heavy, it’s catchy, and it’s innovative. This is the best death metal album of 2011 so far, and other bands are going to have to work pretty hard to top it.”

Track listing for Phoenix Amongst the Ashes:

1. Rebirth

2. The Eternal Ruler

3. Thorns of Acacia

4. Haunting Abound

5. The Art of Redemption

6. Phoenix Amongst the Ashes

7. Deathveil

8. Hatesworn

9. Lake Ablaze

10. The Fire of Resurrection

HATE ETERNAL recorded their fifth studio album at frontman Erik Rutan’s own Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, FL with mastering handled by Alan Douches of West West Side. J.J. Hrubovcak has been added as the band’s bassist, alongside the devastating combo of Erik Rutan on guitar and Jade Simonetto on drums.

Commented Rutan: “Phoenix Amongst the Ashes is an album that we as a band worked so very hard on to achieve a record of mammoth dynamic proportions. Jade, J.J and I gave everything we had to make a death metal record that would incorporate a balance of speed, heaviness, melody, and pure power. Every song we labored over to have stand out with originality, individuality and unique creativity. We feel we accomplished everything we set out to do with this album and are very proud of the results; we hope you all will agree…”

The first single off of Phoenix Amongst the Ashes, “Haunting Abound,” can now be heard on the band’s landing page HERE. Erik Rutan comments on the first single; “Haunting Abound is a song that we feel carries the intensity and the vibe of traditional HATE ETERNAL, yet explores new territory with a certain heaviness that has never been presented before in a HATE ETERNAL song. Infusing more dynamics and expanding our sound whilst retaining the integrity and ferocity that fans expect from us. This is only a small taste of things to come upon listening to Phoenix Amongst The Ashes…”

Also available on the landing page are pre-orders.

Artwork was once again handled by Paul Romano (Mastodon, Chiodos, The Acacia Strain, Godflesh, Earth Crisis) who has also created cover art for HATE ETERNAL’s I, Monarch, The Perilous Fight (DVD), and Fury & Flames.

“They play progressive, rhythm-switching death metal like seasoned veterans of the industry…” – Noisecreep.com

INSURRECTIONhttp://www.myspace.com/insurrectionmetal
Ottawa / Hull area death metal veterans INSURRECTION will be returning to Toronto for this great show! “Insurrection brings you the complexity of the human condition wrapped in the fires of intensity and brute force. Pushing the limits set by the previous outing, Insurrection becomes more than the sum of its parts, every track contributing to this merciless new abomination”

WRETCHEDPAINhttp://www.myspace.com/wretchedpain
Initially conceived nearly a decade ago, Wretchedpain pools its heavy talent from lead guitarist Sam Bean of Mithras, The Senseless, and formerly The Berzerker, drummer Kevin Talley of Daath, and formerly Chimaira, Misery Index and Dying Fetus, and bass playerDan Mackie of MDM and Defense Mechanism to fuse elements of death / tech metal, and grind with a heavy groove. Their debut album“Congregation” was mixed and mastered by veteran Chris “Zeuss” Harris, producer of Hatebreed, Chimaira, Whitechapel, and Shadows Fall.

Toronto’s own progressive death metal! String of Ares bring forth thier “Temple to Mars” album released on (Archaic North) as a gateway to the Gods, the cosmos and beyond. A dedication to the ancient Roman god of war, Mars. The album is inspired by the history and myths of ancient Rome and Greece; empires that were bound by their universal worship of the earth, the sky, the stars, the planets, and war.

Lock Up / Criminal / Pentagram (Chile) guitarist Anton Reisenegger comments on his guest vocal appearance on the track “Bestia De Las Mil Cabezas [Beast Of A Thousand Heads]” on the new DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS album,Satánico Dramático, which isavailable for FREE download at www.DDLM.net.

“I’ve known Alfonso [Pinzón, DDLM drummer] for ages. We first met when Criminal played the Rock al Parque festival in Colombia. His band Agony was fighting it out in the South American underground just like us. He recently approached me about contributing some vocals to his new project DDLM and I was happy to oblige. I love their straight-ahead, no-bullshit approach and that they have this authentic South American extreme metal vibe to them. Appearing on a record next to people like Jeff Walker and Maldito X is a real honor!”

DDLM drummer & founding member Alfonso Pinzón comments on the band’s motivation to offer their album at no cost to fans:

“We are very proud of finally being able to deliver this album to metal fans from all corners of the globe, regardless of their financial situation. We don’t want your money. True metal has never been about milking money out of the fans. If you like the band, we only ask you to download this album and play it as loud as you can! Metal to the masses!”

The 28th of March BORKNAGAR signed a 3 album deal with Century Media Records.

BORKNAGAR is currently working on material for a new album, at this point roughly scheduled to be released in early 2012.

Øystein G. Brun comments:

” Well, sometimes life takes slightly unexpected yet great turns! Due to internal business affairs the deal with Indie recordings was mutually terminated by both parties in January 2011. Since then we have been negotiating a possible re-signing with CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS. While you are reading this, Jens F. Ryland and I are at the headquarters of CMR in Dortmund to ink a new deal with our old partners in crime. If feels very good to be back in the fold of the mighty Century family- there is simply no team- no label alike. Thanks to Jens Preuter (head A&R) we have worked out and landed a deal that we are 110% sure will serve the future endeavors of BORKNAGAR in the best possible and most potent way. We share so much history with CMR and we are now preparing to create more musical history for the future to come- together with our friends at the Century family!”

Head of A&R at Century Media, Jens Preuter, comments:

“We are very proud to welcome back such a great and highly influential band. Whether you want to call it Black-, Progressive-, Viking-, Folk- or whatever Metal, Borknagar always managed to be just themselves on a unique and high level. I already heard some pre-production demos from the upcoming album and I can tell you it will be not just another masterpiece, but probably the best material they’ve done so far. In case you live near by Dortmund, Germany, you can come by the Die Burg bar on Thursday, March 29 evening and party with Øystein G. Brun, Jens F. Ryland and the Century Media crew.”

Swedish metal sextet MARIONETTE has confirmed an exclusive headlining show at Sticky Fingers (Top Floor) in Gothenburg on May 27th. The concert, presented by Loudfarmer.com, will see MARIONETTE perform its first headline concert in Gothenburg in over a year, giving attendees a chance to experience never before played songs from the bands third album as well as favorites from the Spite and Enemies records. Completing the bill will be ZOMBIEKRIG – fresh off its Swedish dates with THE HAUNTED – and CIPHER SYSTEM, performing live for the first time in over six years.

Bassist and founding member of MARIONETTE Mikael Medin comments: “It’s been over a year since we did a proper headlining concert in our hometown Gothenburg. Since that last show we’ve done a fair amount of touring in Europe and the UK and recorded a new album. We look forward to having ZOMBIEKRIG and CIPHER SYSTEM join us for this show! Our friends at Loudfarmer.com are running a cool contest worth checking out if you’re looking to snag 2 free tickets to the show and a chance to pass the line. We look forward to making this night memorable for everyone!”

Winnipeg, Manitoba’s ANNEX THEORY, which features in its ranks former QUO VADIS vocalist Trevor Birnie, has revealed the artwork for its upcoming debut EP, “Beneath The Skin.” The art was designed by drummer Adam Jefkins—who had also previously wrapped up assisting in costume design for the 2011 feature length film “Goon,” starring Seann WilliamScott (AmericanPie, RoleModels) and JayBruchel (HowTo Train Your Dragon, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Tropic Thunder).

The band has also announced a Canadian tour supporting progressive death metallers LAIKA. Guitarist Sam Jacobs comments:

“Touring was something we had planned on doing from day one, so it’s an incredible feeling to finally have the chance to hit the road! We want to thank the guys in LAIKA for throwing us on this tour, it’s a great chance for us to start spreading the word and show people what ANNEX THEORY is all about! It’s gonna be one hell of a time.”

“Beneath The Skin” was produced and mixed by Carlin“Lemon”Heibert, cousin of COMEBACK KID guitarist Jeremy Heibert, and was mastered by TESSERACT guitarist Acle Kahney. The EP will see a worldwide digital release in May, while physical copies will be made available through the band exclusively.

LAIKA will soon enter the studio to record the follow-up to its self-released debut album, “Crafting The Cataclysm.”

According to a press release, ANNEX THEORY “combines high-level musicianship with catchy choruses and heavy grooves.” The band has opened for NEURAXIS, WITHIN THE RUINS, SUFFOKATE, LAST CHANCE TO REASON, DESPISED ICON, MISERY INDEX, and ELECTRO QUARTERSTAFF among others.

CALIFORNIA – Autopsy has revealed the cover art and track list for the legendary group’s long-awaited fifth studio album, Macabre Eternal. The highly anticipated release is slated to hit stores on May 31st on Peaceville Records, while a special double-colored vinyl edition, packaged with a gatefold sleeve and numbered to 2000 copies, will be available on May 16th through the Peaceville webstore.

One of the early breed of US death metal acts, and most respected names in the genre, Autopsy formed in 1987 in San Francisco, and released four albums on Peaceville Records – beginning with the classic debut Severed Survival in 1989 – before disbanding in 1995, with members going on to form Abscess.

Autopsy triumphantly and officially returned from the grave after a 15 year hiatus with the 2010 EP, ‘The Tomb Within’, delighting critics and fans alike.

Autopsy also celebrated this long overdue return with three headlining festivals at Maryland Deathfest, PartySan and Hole in the Sky, featuring friend, Dan Lilker (Brutal Truth, Nuclear Assault), on bass.

The band will play several 2011 festival dates in support of Macabre Eternal.

„Follow the White Mouse”, the newest album from Polish metallers Neuronia is now available internationally on Metal Scrap Records. The disc has been released on 21st March in an attractive collectible version. The band also plans to surprise their fans in Poland with a yet unknown surprise release.

The album features seven earblasting tracks of melodic post-death/doom metal with a distinguishing, individual sound. The intro and outro tracks were recorded by ex-Riverside keyboardist Jacek Melnicki, who also mixed and produced the album. Other distinguished guests also took part in recording, e.g. Paul (Pandemonium), who pitched in with guest vocals on ‘Make Them Die’ and Opath (Corruption, Leash Eye), who contributed with a guitar solo in ‘Faster’.

The international premiere of „Follow the White Mouse” took place on March 19. The album was released via Total Metal Records, a subdivision of Ukraine’s premier underground metal label Metal Scrap Records, operating since the mid-90s. Lately, Metal Scrap has also released international editions of works of highly respected Polish bands QUO VADIS and CRYPTIC.

The international version of the album features an enhanced 12-page booklet, and a laser pit-art engraving makes this CD a catch for every collector. The CD comes in an elegant jewelcase box. The album is readily available for purchase through Metal Scrap Records’ online shop (http://www.metalscraprecords.org.ua/en), as well as through many distributors in Europe, the Americas and Asia (full list of distributors available on the Metal Scrap Records’ website).

‘Metal Scrap is a perfect label for us. We’ve practically spoken the same language from the start of our negotiations and we’ve set all the details very quick’, says Neuronia’s singer, Maciek ‘Tektur’ Nawrot. ‘Suffice to say that we’ve signed the contract in mid-January, and two months later we’ve got the CD’s fresh from the pressing plant, and they sound – AND LOOK – brilliant!’

But this isn’t the end of Neuronia’s current release plans. The Warsaw-based band is going to surprise their Polish fans with a completely new recording. ‘I won’t divulge our plans, but I can assure everybody that this will be the first time that they will hear a non-English Neuronia’, Tektur concludes.

Italian atmospheric black metal band OGEN has released a new song (‘Crest of the Forgotten’) taken from the upcoming ‘Black Metal Unbound’ EP, to be released by Kolony Records on the first week of June.

The CD was recorded at Elfo Studio in Italy with producer Daniele Mandelli (FORGOTTEN TOMB), and features a guest appearance by BE’LAKOR lead singer George Kosmas in the song “Shattered Earth Volcano”.

Swedish black metallers MARDUK recently completed recording three new songs for an upcoming EP. Dubbed Iron Dawn, the EP is set for release via Regain Records on May 27, 2011, at the Maryland Deathfest where the band will make their long-anticipated appearance. The EP will also be available at the six additional North American shows to follow with a worldwide street date of May 30, 2011.

Additionally, the EP will be issued as a digipak and on 12” vinyl (limited to 500 copies worldwide). Further details to be announced soon. View the cover art HERE.

Indie documentary feature film “Promised Land of Heavy Metal” will be shown at the first ever Heavy Metal Film Festival in Los Angeles USA, from 31st March to 3rd April at the Downtown Independent Cinema. Films including “Meshuggah Alive”, “Anvil – the story of Anvil” and “Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie” about Saxon are also featured at the festival.

Promised Land of Heavy Metal is a HD TV feature documentary film about the history and philosophy of Heavy Metal and how it became such a big deal in a small country called Finland.

We tell the story of Finnish Metal, from it’s early “underground” days to the present success stories, by interviewing famous – and infamous – musicians, experts and events organizers, a psychiatrist, a priest and a doctor of theology. Can metal survive when it becomes mainstream, and Eurovision and Pop Idol competitions are won by metal? Metal has even entered the Finnish Lutheran church, that organizes metal masses.

The film includes all the big stars of Finnish Metal (HIM, Lordi, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish…) many international celebrities (Entombed SWEDEN, Dimmu Borgir NORWAY, Killswitch Engage USA, Carcass UK…) and finally Madam President of Finland, Tarja Halonen.

The film takes us – literally – from the graveyard to the Finnish President’s palace!“Promised Land of Heavy Metal” is narrated by Kimmo Kuusniemi, a filmmaker and forefather of Finnish Metal. After forming the pioneering metal band Sarcofagus Kuusniemi left his homeland 18 years ago despairing of it’s apathy towards the music he loves. Now based in Britain Kuusniemi sees the current popularity of Finnish Heavy Metal as a surprising phenomenon, after all he was the one fighting for the cause more than 30 years ago. And now, in “Promised Land of Heavy Metal”, he sets out to discover what exactly happened to Metal in Finland while he was gone.

The documentary is entirely in English. It’s co-produced by Finnish TV YLE.

The film has had great reviews and is well received and known all around the world.The documentary was the first feature film available as an App for iPhones from the Apple Store (as noted by The Wall Street Journal USA).Multilingual European DVD distribution by Cyclone Empire, Germany.The USA representation by MDI Distribution.